Social media has changed the way people consume media on a massive scale and how they go about purchasing items. From international news to local campaigns, social media has revolutionized the way we interact with each other and with brands. Stock imagery has neatly tied in with the rise of social media, and is having more influence on the way we consume than you may think.
Think about this: The average consumer checks their mobile device 47 times per day. 89% also reach for their phones within the first hour of waking up. This means that almost immediately, people are scrolling through their social media feeds, exposing themselves to a plethora of news, culture…and advertisements. It’s no surprise that most of us don’t like ads being thrown at us, but if it works its way into our lives in an organic fashion, such as a Facebook ad, we’re less bothered about it. In fact, we’re adjusting and embracing it now.
Given the higher sensitivity to instant gratification of the millennial generation, a sense of urgency has never been more available for marketers to use than now. Being able to create a sense of urgency and an environment that could encourage ‘impulse purchasing’ has proven to work on younger consumers, and increase sales from the relevant ads. This is where Stock Imagery comes in.
Using a high-quality image surrounding the product you’re selling can have a big difference in setting you apart from the competition. An eye-catching image with a relevant call to action can be a powerful incentive for consumers to click. Granted, it has been suggested that video imagery has a stronger effect on consumers over still photography. Facebook recommends emphasizing the value of short video creative that not only is relevant to the consumer, but also matches the speed and tempo of the platform that they are using, social media. This gives quite a lot of options for fast paced video or brightly colored images to create eye-catching designs with a powerful impact on the consumer.
So, we know what to use (ads), and where to use them (social media), but what really constitutes a ‘good’ image over a ‘bad’ one? For video it’s easy, keep it short (under 15 seconds) and fast paced. For still imagery, it’s a bit more complex. Firstly, you need to find an image that supports the idea of what you are selling. If you’re promoting an app, for example, an image of someone using a phone might be ideal, to plant the idea in people’s minds that it is a phone-based service. If you want to a bit more abstract, try using an image of a neural network, or something that surrounds the idea of technology. As always, bright colors and high-quality imagery – as they are key to being attention-grabbing here.
For examples of premium, high quality imagery, see the Ingimage curated collection here. Or to see Ingimage’s most popular social media themed images, click here.
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